Objective To evaluate the toxic effects of staphylococcus aureus exotoxins and neutrophils on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells (RPEC). Methods An in-vitro model of bacteroidal endophthalmitis was established by co-culturing of human RPE cell line D407 and human peripheral blood neutrophils in the present of staphylococcus aureus exotoxins ATCC29213. The level of lactate dehydrogenase hydroxide（LDH）in the cuture supernant was measured, and the viability of RPE was evlauated by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342/Propidium Iodide（PI）staining. Results When RPE cells were cultured with the exotoxin ATCC29213, the LDH level and necrotic RPE cells were positive proportional to the dosage of exotoxin, but only 250mu;l or 500mu;l of ATCC29213 had a statistical significant effect. When RPE cells were co-cultured with neutrophils in the present of ATCC29213 for 6 hours, 100mu;l of ATCC29213 already had a statistical significant effect on LDH level and necrotic RPEC, and the effect was proportional to the amount of neutrophils in the culture. Conclusion Both staphylococcus aureus exotoxins and neutrophils can damage the RPEC by inducing necrosis, and their function had synergetic effect.